Everyone knows that losing sleep is bad for you, but do you know just how bad? Not only can lack of sleep cause work or vehicular accidents, sleep deprivation can also lead to more serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and stroke. Without proper sleep, your body is unable to produce the hormones and chemistry it needs to stay healthy.
Dental symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) include acid reflux, clenching or grinding (bruxism), gingivitis from open mouth breathing and a scalloped tongue.
So How Do We Treat This?
After diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, we can provide an alternative treatment to a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) - a machine that forces air into the body. The alternative appliance is called an Oral Sleep Appliance.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that Oral Appliances are the first line of treatment for mild/moderate sleep apnea. It can be used for those struggling to use their CPAP and also for severe apnea cases when the CPAP is intolerable.
Most medical insurances, including medicare, will provide some benefit coverage.
We use in office technology (a pharyngometer/rhinometer) to measure airway size and flexibility and to create and confirm the effectiveness of the appliance.
If you suspect you or a loved one suffers from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, please make an appointment for a complimentary consultation. During this consultation, we will measure the size and flexibility of your airway and screen you for the symptoms of OSA. If it appears that OSA is suspected, we will assist in getting you a diagnosis and treatment.
For more information, please go to www.sleepeducation.org.